Down its top two pitchers, but riding high off an uplifting win over Cherokee, Howell looks to pull off one more stunner Saturday vs. Hunterdon Central.
A.J. Gracia crushed a leadoff home run, pitched 5 2/3 dominant innings and started the winning rally as Ranney topped Immaculata for its first ever NJSIAA Group Championship.
After a colossal win over Gloucester Catholic to win the sectional title, Ranney looks to finish the journey to a Non-Public B title Wednesday vs. Immaculata.
Nick Barracato and Jason Pace started the postseason as extra pitchers, but both took center stage Monday in an extra-inning win over Cherokee in the Group IV semifinals.
Colin Dowlen pitched another complete game and Middletown North's defense backed him up to earn a spot in the state final with a 6-1 win over one of New Jersey's hottest teams.
Scores and recaps from the four Central-vs.-South NJSIAA Group IV games, with Howell, Middletown North, Rumson-Fair Haven and Point Beach representing the Shore.
Howell, Middletown North, Rumson-Fair Haven and Point Beach will try to fill half the spots in the state finals with Shore teams by surviving Monday's Group Semifinals in South Jersey.
Howell struck early an often against East Brunswick in the Central Group IV final, ending a 28-year championship drought and setting school wins record.
Middletown North carried its red-hot offense into the Central Group III final at Colts Neck and kept the runs coming on the way to its first sectional title since 1989.
After its last four seasons ended at Middlesex, Point Beach scored twice in the seventh to beat the four-time defending champions and win the program's first Central Group I title.
Charlie Chropuvka hit a game-winning three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Ranney a thrilling win over Gloucester Catholic and the program's first ever NJSIAA sectional title.
Eight Shore Conference teams vie for six NJSIAA sectional championships Friday afternoon. Get all the scores, stats and recaps from championship Friday here.